BI’s Asian success was led by its LiveTrade platform, which its said generated a turnover of £17.2 million in the six months and saw Asian traders behind 70% of sales.

It added that it has also seen a 79% increase in rare spirits sales, heavily driven by Asia-based buyers’ interest in rare whiskies.

In France, Rhône could be a region to watch, BI said.

Top producers, such as Château Rayas, Jean-Louis Chave and Henri Bonneau, have seen sales increase 64% so far this year, ‘due to greater demand for back vintages being bought as an alternative to Burgundy’.

Looking ahead, BI’s managing director, Gary Boom, predicted that the fallout of 2017’s disastrous weather in some parts of France would be good for those with well-stocked cellars.

‘The plight of the 2017 harvest, which has been heavily hail and frost affected, suggests that a further future supply constraint is to be incorporated. Whilst this is awful news for affected winegrowers, it is at least welcome news for holders of stock.’